The magazine’s awards panel cited White’s work on the massive Duke Forward campaign, a $3 billion initiative for campus wide improvements. Included among them are $250 million worth of athletic department upgrades, including improvements to Wallace Wade Stadium and Cameron Indoor Stadium as well as the construction of a track-specific stadium.

Duke’s success in football last season, when the Blue Devils set a school record for wins while going 10-4 and winning the ACC Coastal Division championship, was another reason White won the award. For the first time in a generation, Duke has a respected football program to go with Mike Krzyzewski’s championship-level basketball program.

White’s work with the ACC also led to him being honored with the AD of the year award. His behind-the-scenes work during the tumultuous conference realignment period between 2010-2012 is considered a major reason why the ACC is a stable league on par with the Pac-12, Big Ten, Southeastern and Big 12 conferences.

White is also one of three athletic directors working on the ACC’s television committee, which has researched the viability of the ACC Network which is expected to be launched by the end of this decade.

White came to Duke in 2008 after serving as athetlc director at Notre Dame.